The first insect folliculostatic peptide was isolated from vitellogenic ovaries of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. This decapeptide directly inhibits trypsin biosynthesis in the gut, and indirectly ovarian development. The factor was named Trypsin Modulating Oostatic Factor or TMOF by its discoverers. From the fleshfly Neobellieria bullata 2 folliculostatins have been isolated, the hexapeptide Neb-TMOF and the 19-mer Neb-colloostatin. The available data suggest that at least 2 of the 3 folliculostatins originate from matrix (like) proteins present in the ovary, a hitherto unknown source of hormones. Furthermore, one of the folliculostatins (Neb-TMOF) is a potent inhibitor of ecdysone biosynthesis by larval ring glands of fleshflies. The discovery of the dipteran folliculostatins, which do not show ally resemblance to inhibins of vertebrates, may significantly contribute to a better understanding of the hormonal control of growth in insects and, perhaps, in other animals as well. None of the 3 folliculostatins is blocked at its N- or C-terminus. This, in combination with the pleiotropy of their effects and the narrow species specificity make such peptides prime candidates for testing their potential in insect pest control by means of molecular biological methods.